A rare traditional back collar from the Dao Hồng Tụ community of Yên Bái, in the northern highlands of Vietnam. Made as a detachable costume element, this richly ornamented panel would have been worn over a tunic, forming a highly visible expression of Dao identity, artistry, and regional dress tradition.
The collar is constructed with appliquéd red, black, and white cotton, creating a bold geometric band across the top. Rows of antique glass beads are carefully arranged in black and white, with small colored accents that animate the surface. Below, long magenta-purple streamers cascade from the beaded band, giving the piece a dramatic sense of movement when worn.
Among Dao communities in northern Vietnam, women’s dress carries deep cultural meaning. Distinctive garments, collars, turbans, belts, and embellishments identify regional and subgroup affiliation while also allowing room for individual expression within inherited traditions. This example belongs to the Dao Hồng Tụ, a smaller and less widely documented Dao subgroup, making surviving examples especially uncommon.
Unlike collars that are permanently sewn into a tunic, this piece was made as an independent, detachable adornment. Today, it has a striking sculptural presence beyond its original function, with the contrast of beadwork, appliqué, and flowing fringe reflecting the refined textile traditions of highland Vietnam.
Size: 1'4 x 11"
Age: 1st half 20th Century
Origin: Dao Hồng Tụ, Yên Bái Province Northern Vietnam
Type of Textile: Ceremonial textile element
Material: Glass beads, cotton, rayon
Condition: Very good
TX715
